The Journey of a Budding Socialite Way Uptown

BP Diaz Pulls a Carrion

You guys know I hate to get political here, but I couldn’t just sit back while of this went down.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. declined to reappoint Mychal Johnson, chair of Community Board 1 from office, who has held the position for 7 years. If you’ve been following the Fresh Direct debacle, you know that Johnson was a strong opponent of Diaz’s Fresh Direct deal, giving the company $127.8 million in cash and tax breaks to move to a location in the South Bronx (source).

Now, no matter what side of the issue you’re on, a political figure removing those from the community who disagree with him/her debases the democratic system we have set up in this city, state, and country. I fully realize that it is the borough president’s job to appoint community board members ,but I say why not let the community decide who represents them? What’s the point of even having community boards if when they disagree with the powers that be, they’ll just be removed from their positions? It’s a sham.

Let’s take a look back to the Yankee Stadium controversy, that bears a very striking resemblance to this situation. Then BP Adolfo Carrion (who’s running for mayor, so keep this in mind when you head to the polls in November) was all on board for the building of a new Yankee Stadium. The community board voted it down. What did he do? Removed them from their positions by demoting or replacing them. The plan cost $800 million.

It’s not okay for public officials to go against the will of the people.

I get why some might not understand why people are so against the Fresh Direct deal, please allow South Bronx Unite to explain. Prior to the deal, Fresh Direct drove straight through our borough to deliver to Westchester. Seriously? GTFO.